Stem and disc assembly for globe and angle valves



Nov. 26, 1968 J. 5. HANSON ET STEM AND DISC ASSEMBLY FOR GLOBE AND ANGLEVALVES Filed May 5. 1966 k 0 7 mm f m/ T04 QJE m y N V mg m 0 Jr a a Z.M

United States Patent Ofice 3,412,751 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 3,412,751STEM AND DISC ASSEMBLY FOR GLOBE AND ANGLE VALVES James S. Hanson,Binghamton, and Alexander F. Walluk,

Johnson City, N.Y., assignors to The Fairbanks Company, Binghamton,N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 3, 1966, Ser. No. 547,210 6Claims. (Cl. 137-331) This invention relates to globe and angle typevalves. More particularly, it relates to novel and improved stem anddisc assemblies for valves of these types which provide advantageouslyrelatively silent operation.

In the construction of globe and angle valves, their design requiresthat the discs thereof be permitted to spin as the disc becomes seatedduring closing of the valve. Such requirement results from severaloperational needs. Thus the spinning is required to insure that thevalves will close at different positions on the respective seats, and toutilize the spinning action of the discs at the moments of final closurefor cleaning off any foreign material accumulated on the seatingsurfaces to prevent improper closure or damage to such surfaces. Inglobe and angle valves, therefore, the valve disc is invariably mountedfor free rotation on the valve stem.

Because of the rotatable mounting of the valve discs, when globe valvesand angle valves are open, the fluid or gas flowing therethrough causesthe discs to spin constantly. This spinning action results in excessivewear on the end of the stern. In the presence of normally-existingturbulence, the discs spin eccentrically causing loud clanking noiseswhich are submitted through the piping system. The problem isaccentuated progressively as the valve size increases. Since globevalves and angle valves are used for controlling flow, they are oftenoperated in partially open position, where the spinning and clanking ofthe valve disc also occurs.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide a valve in which the spinning of the disc and the clanking noiseresulting therefrom are prevented during the operation of the valve atall times except during the final moment of closure.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided in a valvecomprising a stern, a disc located at one end of the stem, a seat ringwhich the disc engages when the valve is in the fully closed position,and a bonnet through which the stem extends, the base of the bonnetbeing spaced from the disc whereby the bonnet and disc comprise a pairof structures defining a space therebetween; the improvement whichcomprises a conically wound spring disposed in the aforesaid space withits largest diameter end coil adjacent the disc and its smallestdiameter end coil adjacent the base of the bonnet. Each coil of thespring has a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the nextsmaller coil adjacent thereto, the spring being attached at one end toone of the structures, whereby, upon the opening of the valve, theresulting tensioning action of the spring upon the disc prevents anyspinning of the disc.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent during the course of the following specification when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a globe valve incorporatingthe spring according to the invention, the valve being shown in theclosed position; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the valve in a partiallyopened position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a globe valve 10comprising a valve body 12 in the form of a substantially cylindricalcasting having an interior wall or seat diaphragm 14 dividing the valveinterior into two chambers communicating with respective pipe-receivingopenings 12a and 12b. Valve operation is achieved by controlling thefiow of liquid between the two chambers by closing or opening a controlaperture 16 formed in a horizontal portion of the seat diaphragm 14.

For opening and closing the control aperture 16, there is provided astem assembly 18 including a threaded stem 20 meshing with the interiorthreading of a yoke bushing 22 mounted in valve bonnet 24 by lock nut26. The stem 20 extends through a gland 28 and through an aperture 30 atthe bottom of bonnet 24 into the interior of the valve body 12. At itslower end, the stem 20 has a flange 32 received in a correspondinglyshaped slot 34 of valve disc 36. Conventionally, by such structure, thevalve disc 36 may spin freely upon stem 20.

The valve disc 36 is provided with an annular facing 38 which registerswith a seat ring 40 mounted on the seat diaphragm 14 and bordering thecontrol aperture 16. A hand wheel 42, secured to the top of stem 20 bynut 44, is employed for turning the threaded stem 20 to raise and lowerthe valve disc into and out of seating engagement with the seat ring 40.

In the valve shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprising the structures as so fardescribed, when the valve is in open or partially-open condition, theforce of the liquid flowing through aperture 16 causes disc 36 to spinconstantly with the attendant excessive wear on the end of stem 20'.Since turbulence is almost invariable present, the disc is caused tospin eccentrically, producing very loud clanking noises.

To overcome the spinning disc :problem, and in accordance with theinvention, there is provided a conicallywound spring 46 which brakes thespinning action of the disc 36 when the valve is in open condition, butpermits the disc to spin freely when the latter is close to its seatedposition, thus obtaining the aforementioned advantages of proper seatingand valve seat Wiping. The spring 46 increases in diameter from top tobottom, and its upper turn 46a embraces and is secured to a circularprojection 48 on the lower surface of bonnet 24, which projection isconcentric with the valve stem aperture 30. The large bottom turn 46b ofspring 46 is sized to seat in an annular groove 50 on the top surface ofdisc 36.

Spring 46 is made of such a length that when the disc 36 is in itsseated position of FIG. 1, its bottom turn 46b is spaced above and outof contact with the groove 50 of said disc 36. Specifically, the spring46 is so sized that its length is about three-fourths or more of thetotal lift of disc 36.

When the valve is in the closed position of FIG. 1, the

{stem 20 has brought the valve disc 36 into firm engagement with theseat ring 40, thereby closing off the control aperture 16 .to the flowof water therethrough. In this closed position, the lowermost coil 46bof spring 46 is spaced above and out of contact with disc 36. When thevalve is opened by turning hand wheel 42, the stem 20 lifts the disc 36off the seat ring 40 permitting water to flow through the valve, and theflow of water will cause disc 36 to begin to spin on the end of the stem20. When the valve disc 36 has been raised a distance of about a quarterof its total travel, it will engage the lowermost coil 46b, the latterentering and seating within groove 50 in the upper -surface of disc 36.The spring 46b will then retard and stop the spinning action of thedisc. As the disc is continued to be lifted toward its fully-openposition, the spring 46 is further compressed, increasing its brakingaction.

When the valve is brought from open position toward closed position, thedisc 36 is held against spinning by spring 46 until the disc inapproaching the valve ring 40, has approximately one quarter of itstotal displacement still to travel. At this point, the disc is loweredout of engagement with spring 46 and is free to rotate. The flowingfluid will then cause the disc to spin on the end of valve stem 20, sothat it engages seat ring 40 to close the valve while spinning rapidly.This spinning engagement at the moment of final closure beneficiallyallows the disc to clean off any foreign materials accumulated on theseating areas, thereby preventing improper closure or damage to theseating areas.

As is conventional in valves of this type, the gland 28 holds a quantityof packing 52 which provides a seal about the top of bonnet aperture 30and normally prevents liquid, gas or steam from leaking outtherethrough. In addition, the stem 20 is provided with a backseatingcollar 54 which fits tightly within a bevelled seat 56 at the lower endof bonnet aperture 30 when the valve is in fully open position, toprovide a seal at the bottom of said aperture 30. Globe valve standardsrequire this backseat sealing feature so that the packing 52 may beremoved and replaced while the valve is in fully open position withoutleakage.

The spring 46 is so constructed that it will not interfere with thebackseating collar 54 engaging when the valve is in fully open position.For this purpose, the spring is so sized that the inner diameter of eachcoil is greater than the outer diameter of the coil immediately aboveit. When the valve disc is raised, the spring thus compresses to aflattened condition to permit the collar 54 to reach seat 56.

Alternatively the lowest coil of spring 46 can be rigidly attached tothe top of valve disc 56 and the uppermost coil of spring 46 can be thenarranged to engage the base of bonnet 24 when the valve is being openedto effect prevention of disc spinning when the coil is opened. It isalso contemplated that a coupling in the nature of rubber or otherelastomer may be used in place of the spring 46, but the latter ispreferred because of its ability to operate efiectively under alltemperatures.

The providing of the spring in accordance with the invention presentsthe added advantages of durability and wide applicability of use. Thus,since the spring is of metal, it can be employed in valves used at veryhigh and very low temperatures.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes andomissions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and,scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a valve comprising a body having a fluid passageway therethrough,a stem extending through a portion of said body and mounted forlongitudinal movement therein, a disc rotatably mounted on one end ofsaid stem and responsive to fluid flow to rotate relative to said stem,a seat engageable by said disc in the closed position of said valve toarrest fiuid flow, said seat and said body portion defining a space of agiven length therebetween along which said disc can be moved by thelongitudinal movement of said stem; the improvement which comprises aflexible member disposed between said body portion and a portion of saiddisc, said flexible member being secured at one of its ends to one ofsaid portions and having a length such that its other end engages theother of said portions within said space when said disc is a selecteddistance from said closed position and is spaced from said other portionas said disc approaches the closed position whereby said disc isprevented from rotating when said other portion is engaged by saidmember and is free to rotate as it approaches said closed position.

2. In a valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible membercomprises a coiled spring.

3. In a valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said spring has an axiallength which is about three-fourths the length of said space.

4. In a valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said spring is conicallywound and disposed with its largest diameter end coil adjacent said discportion and its smallest diameter end coil adjacent said body portion,each coil of said spring having a larger inner diameter than the outerdiameter of the next smaller coil adjacent thereto.

5. In a valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said largest diameter endcoil is attached to said disc portion.

6. In a valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said smallest diameter endcoil is attached to said body portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,254 9/1889 McNeil 137332937,773 10/1909 Cunning 137-332 2,780,240 2/1957 Madak 137-332 X WILLIAMF. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

R. GERARD, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A VALVE COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A FLUID PASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH,A STEM EXTENDING THROUGH A PORTION OF SAID BODY AND MOUNTED FORLONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREIN, A DISC ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON ONE END OFSAID STEM AND RESPONSIVE TO FLUID FLOW TO ROTATE RELATIVE TO SAID STEM,A SEAT ENGAGEABLE BY SAID DISC IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID VALVE TOARREST FLUID FLOW, SAID SEAT AND SAID BODY PORTION DEFINING A SPACE OF AGIVEN LENGTH THEREBETWEEN ALONG WHICH SAID DISC CAN BE MOVED BY THELONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID STEM; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES AFLEXIBLE MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID BODY PORTION AND A PORTION OF SAIDDISC, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER BEING SECURED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS TO ONE OFSAID PORTIONS AND HAVING A LENGTH SUCH THAT ITS OTHER END ENGAGES THEOTHER OF SAID PORTIONS WITHIN SAID SPACE WHEN SAID DISC IS A SELECTEDDISTANCE FROM SAID CLOSED POSITION AND IS SPACED FROM SAID OTHER PORTIONAS SAID DISC APPROACHES THE CLOSED POSITION WHEREBY SAID DISC ISPREVENTED FROM ROTATING WHEN SAID OTHER PORTION IS ENGAGED BY SAIDMEMBER AND IS FREE TO ROTATE AS IT APPROACHES SAID CLOSED POSITION.